
you in His arms of infinite love. His ear is open to the cry of the contrite
soul. The very first reaching out of the heart after God is known to Him.
Never a prayer is offered, however faltering, never a tear is shed, however
secret, never a sincere desire after God is cherished, however feeble, but the
Spirit of God goes forth to meet
it."—"Christ's Object Lessons,"
p. 206.
God's Love for the Straying
11.
How did Christ illustrate God's love for the straying? Luke 15:3-7.
NOTE.—"The true shepherd leaves the flock that love him, and goes out
into the wilderness, enduring hardship and facing danger and death, to seek
and save the sheep that has wandered from the fold, and that must perish if
not brought back. When after diligent search the lost is found, the shepherd,
though suffering from weariness, pain, and hunger, does not leave it in its
weakness to follow him, he does not drive it along, but, 0 wondrous love ! he
tenderly gathers it in his arms, and placing it upon his shoulder, bears it back
to the
fold."—"Testimonies," vol.
5, p. 604.
"As the shepherd loves his sheep, and cannot rest if even one be missing, so,
in an infinitely higher degree, does God love every outcast soul. Men may
deny the claim of His love, they may wander from Him, they may choose
another master; yet they are God's, and He longs to recover His own."—
"Christ's Object Lessons,"
p. 187.
12.
Who makes the first advance in the recovery of the lost sheep?
Luke 15:4, last part.
NoTE.—The sheep knows that it is lost, but knows not the way back. The
shepherd makes the first advance to recover it. "The soul that has wandered
away from God . . . is as helpless as the lost sheep, and unless divine love
had come to his rescue, he could never find his way to
God."—"Christ's Object
Lessons,"
p. 187.
"Desponding soul, take courage, even though you have done wickedly.
Do not think that
perhaps
God will pardon your transgressions, and permit you
to come into His presence. God has made the first advance. While you were
in rebellion against Him, He went forth to seek you. . . .
"In the parable of the lost sheep, Christ teaches that salvation does not
come through our seeking after God, but through God's seeking after us. . . .
We do not repent in order that God may love us, but He reveals to us His
love in order that we may repent."—Id., pp. 188, 189.
13.
In what other parable did Christ teach God's love for the sinner?
Luke 15:8-10.
NorE.—"In the parable of the prodigal son is presented the Lord's deal-
ing with those who have once known the Father's
love."—"Christ's Object
Lessons,"
p. 198.
"The lost sheep knows that it is lost. It has left the shepherd and the
flock, and it cannot recover itself. It represents those who realize that they
are separated from God, and who are in a cloud of perplexity, in humiliation,
and sorely tempted. The lost coin represents those who are lost in trespasses
and sins, but who have no sense of their condition. . . . In this parable Christ
teaches that even those who are indifferent to the claims of God, are the ob-
jects of His pitying love."—/d., pp. 193, 194.
14.
What is the reaction in heaven when the lost is found? Luke 15:
7, 10.
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